New Vessel

The soft warmth of spring clings to the air, a gentle promise carried on a light breeze. The training grounds buzz with energy, the clash of wooden swords and the sharp commands of instructors cutting through the cool morning air. 

Nearby, the rhythmic thud of boots against cement mingles with bursts of laughter and the occasional grunt of effort. 

Overhead, birds chirp faintly from the budding trees that line the edges of the bustling space, their songs nearly drowned out by the hum of life and training all around.

The morning sun stretches long golden light beams across the field, illuminating the soft sheen of dew on the grass and the faint patches of frost that cling stubbornly to the shaded corners.

Near the edge of the training yard, a group of Kaz's comrades watches the sparring with easy smiles and the occasional low chuckle. One knight leans casually on his wooden practice sword, a glint of amusement in his eyes as Eska sidesteps yet another of Kaz's swings. "He's lasting longer today," he says, grinning.

"I told you he'd get better if he kept at it," another knight replies, crossing her arms with a satisfied nod. "She's been coming here every morning, working us like this. I'm surprised he's still standing."

A younger recruit, new to the group, approaches hesitantly. His short black hair is well groomed and his dark eyes look at the group with curiosity. "What's going on? Who is she?" he asks, his gaze snapping to Eska's glowing arms and her relaxed, confident movements.

The seasoned knight gestures toward the ring, his tone light but impressed. "That's Eska, her situation is… Complicated. She's not part of the Church, but she comes by every morning to train with the knights. You're watching her teach him how to handle himself—without pulling any punches."

"Complicated?" The recruit asks, "I thought only church members were allowed on this district."

The older knight exchanges a glance with his comrades, his expression shifting to something more cautious. "That's not for us to explain," he says carefully. "If you've got questions about her, best you ask a Paladin. They're the ones who'll decide what you need to know."

Another knight, leaning against a post, chuckles softly and gestures toward the sparring ring. "What you should be watching is how she's handling Kaz. Look at her—no armor, no weapon, just raw skill. And poor Kaz, he's still giving it everything he's got."

The recruit frowns slightly but turns his attention back to the sparring and the moment his eyes settle on Eska, the rest of the world seems to blur and fade. She moves with an effortless grace, weaving around Kaz like a ribbon caught in a breeze, her every step is light. 

But there's something more than precision to her movements—there's playfulness. 

A grin spreads across her face as she claps, a genuine expression of admiration for his growing skill. Then, with a burst of speed, she darts in, tapping his shield with her glowing forearm before whirling away, a playful laugh echoing in the air.

"She's… incredible," the recruit murmurs, his voice barely audible, as though saying it too loudly might break the spell.

He watches her, captivated by the way the sunlight catches her features. 

Her darkened skin glows faintly, warm and rich, the golden hue of her freckles dancing across her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose. 

Her sharp yellow eyes miss nothing, tracking Kaz's every swing with an intensity that feels almost unbreakable—until she flashes another grin, teasingly raising her hands as if daring him to do better.

Then he notices the imperfections—ones that only add to the enigma she radiates. 

Long, jagged scars cut across her right cheek, like a claw had tried to tear her apart. It's stark against the smoothness of her skin, but she wears it with no trace of shame, as if it's just another part of her story. 

His gaze shifts downward, catching the rolled-up sleeves of her shirt, where a burn spreads across her right forearm. The skin is mottled and uneven, the telltale mark of a wound that no magic or time could completely erase.

She lunges forward, her arm faintly glowing as she blocks Kaz's strike with a soft laugh. "Come on, Kaz," she says playfully, her voice carrying over to where the recruit stands. "You can do better than that!"

The recruit is unable to look away as Eska circles Kaz, her glowing arms trailing faint streaks of light, her smile wide and teasing as she dodges another swing with playful ease.

The recruit's gaze stays locked on Eska as she dances around Kaz. He barely notices how hard Kaz is working to keep up; his focus remains fixed on Eska.

"I'd say you're more staring than watching," comes a low, commanding voice from behind. The recruit jolts, nearly jumping out of his skin and spins around to find Valen standing there. 

The Paladin towers over him, dressed in a crisp black button-up shirt tucked into tailored black dress pants, his presence is as sharp as his perfectly brushed-back black hair. 

His red eyes, piercing and almost luminous in the sunlight, lock onto the flustered recruit with an intensity that makes him swallow hard.

"Sir Valen," the recruit stammers, his cheeks flushing as he tries to recover. "I—I was just—"

"Staring at Eska?" Valen interrupts, one dark eyebrow arched. 

His tone isn't harsh but it's clear he's not letting the recruit off the hook. He gestures toward the sparring ring with a subtle tilt of his head. "If you're going to watch, focus on the technique, not the fighter. Otherwise, you're not learning anything."

The recruit nods quickly, snapping his attention back to the sparring ring. 

He tries to shake off his embarrassment but out of the corner of his eye, he catches Valen stepping forward, hands still in his pockets, his polished shoes silent on the cobblestones.

At first, the recruit expects Valen's sharp, commanding gaze to linger on him, as unrelenting as before. But instead, the Paladin's red eyes fix on the sparring ring—and soften. 

The recruit blinks in surprise. Valen doesn't speak. His usual air of quiet authority seems to melt away, replaced by something almost unguarded as he watches Eska move.

Eska feints left, darting to Kaz's unguarded side with a teasing grin, the neon glow of her arms flickering as she taps his shoulder. 

Her laughter carries lightly across the training yard and the edges of Valen's mouth twitch, like he's holding back a smile. The recruit's confusion deepens.

He glances around, trying to see if anyone else notices what he's seeing. The group standing nearby, however, only exchange knowing glances and one of the older knights nods subtly at him, as if to say, You see it too now, don't you?

The recruit's eyes snap back to Valen, whose focus remains entirely on Eska. 

For a moment, the Paladin's expression is stripped of its usual commanding edge, replaced by a quiet warmth that seems out of place.

The recruit clears his throat softly, drawing Valen's attention for just a moment. "Sir, do you train with her too?" he asks, unsure if he's breaking some unspoken rule by interrupting.

Valen's gaze lingers on Eska for a heartbeat longer before he finally looks at the recruit, his expression sharpening back to something more composed. 

Still, the faintest hint of a smile plays on his lips. "Not as often as I should," he admits, his voice calm, though there's something gentler in his tone.

The recruit hesitates, glancing back at Eska, who dodges another of Kaz's swings with ease, her laughter ringing out again as she playfully prods him to try harder. 

He looks at Valen once more, half-expecting to see the commanding figure he'd known before. But even now, there's something softer about him, like the usual weight he carries has lightened—if only for a moment.

Eska's attention shifts mid-step, her glowing arms lowering slightly as her yellow eyes move toward the edge of the training yard.

Her heart skips a beat and the playful grin she's worn throughout the sparring falters for just a moment. She quickly looks away, though she tries to shake it off and refocus on Kaz.

The group watching the sparring doesn't miss the shift. 

One of the knights stiffens, their eyes darting between Eska and Valen. "Oh shit," they mutter under their breath, a ripple of realization passing through the rest of the group.

"She saw him," another whispers, barely containing a laugh. "I'll go grab his water bottle."

Kaz, oblivious to the sudden tension outside the ring, takes his chance. He pivots sharply, aiming a swift kick at Eska's side. But Eska reacts before the blow can land.

With the speed of a tiger pouncing, Eska catches Kaz's ankle mid-swing, her glowing hand snapping around it like a vice. She twists her body sharply, yanking him forward and off balance, her other hand pressing against his thigh to send his momentum spinning.

Kaz's feet leave the ground entirely and he vaults awkwardly over her shoulder, spinning once before landing hard on his back with a resounding thud.

The training yard falls silent except for Kaz's groan as he stares up at the sky, utterly dazed.

Eska exhales sharply, the glow on her arms fading as she waves a quick hand at Kaz, almost rushing her words. "That's it for today, Kaz. Good job!" She doesn't wait for his response, barely sparing a glance as she turns toward Valen.

"Wait, what—" Kaz starts before noticing Valen. "Oh." He lifts a hand to wave at Valen with a nervous smile. 

The group watches as she heads straight for Valen, her pace quickening. She lifts a hand to wave at Valen, her smile wide and easy, before stopping just in front of him. 

Without hesitation, she reaches out and taps him lightly on the chest, her fingers lingering for half a second as her grin softens, full of quiet warmth. "I didn't know you'd show up today!" she says, her tone making it clear she's happy to see him.

Valen tilts his head slightly, red eyes moving from her hand to her face, the sharp edge of his usual commanding expression softening. "I had some time," he replies, his voice calm but carrying a subtle note of warmth. 

His faint smile, though small, feels genuine—rare enough that it draws the attention of the group watching from the sidelines.

The recruit stares, completely baffled, his gaze bouncing between Eska, Valen and the group. "What… just happened?" he asks, his voice tinged with confusion.

One of the knights smirks knowingly, folding their arms as they nod toward Eska and Valen. "Welcome to the show, kid."

Another knight chuckles, nudging the recruit with their elbow. "Valen's show."

Kaz, still brushing dirt off himself, glares toward the group. "You could've warned me before she ended the fight like that," he grumbles, his voice tinged with irritation.

One of the knights strides over, holding out Kaz's water bottle with a smirk. "Well, where's the fun in that?" she says, her tone light and teasing as they glance between Kaz and the still-distracted Eska.

The recruit looks around again, still lost, his wide eyes catching the knowing smirks of everyone else. "Wait, are they—?" he starts to ask, only for the older knight to clap a hand on his shoulder.

The knight doesn't say a word, but the firm grip and raised eyebrow speak volumes. It's a silent message—don't ask, kid. The recruit closes his mouth, his curiosity not entirely quelled but clearly redirected.